How to Help Howell?

Part 36

Chapter 36:

Dan

I woke up from a quick nap feeling extremely bored when I reached for my phone and saw I had a new text. It was from Phil. I glanced at the home screen and my eyes widened with fear and anticipation. The text wasn't even in depth, but that didn't stop me from slamming the phone back onto the table and sprinting out the door and in the direction of Matt's apartment.

The home screen of my phone still sat facing upwards, the quickly glanced-at text still sitting there.

'Help.'

I burst in through the door to the flat Phil gave me the address to earlier, in case I had an emergency.

"Phil!" I called throughout the filthy apartment, which had a stench that almost blinded me as soon as I walked in. I heard a muffled yell coming from somewhere towards the back of the complex, so I ran in the general direction from where the noise came.

"Phil!" I yelled again, finally coming toward the source of the sound, terrified of what I might find on the other side of the door. I bravely threw open the door and stood in shock at the scene before me.

Phil was sitting up with his back against the headboard of an unmade bed, with a gag in his mouth, shirt removed and thrown to the side, and hands tied together. The look on his face made me want to burst into tears. His face had a look of pure anguish and terror, tears streaming down his red cheeks. But the part that made me the most sick was the owner of the apartment.

He was sitting on Phil's lap straddling him and was tangling his fingers in Phil's hair. Phil looked horrified and tried to wiggle away, but obviously couldn't as a sob tried to escape his lips, getting stuck in the back of his throat.

"Shhh, Philly, it's okay, you're going to be okay now. I'm here." Matt, I presumed, whispered to him, trying to comfort him, I guess, but he just sounded downright creepy.

"Excuse me, what are you doing with my boyfriend?" I demanded, absolutely disgusted by his behavior.

"You're not needed anymore, shrimp, we're good now. Leave my apartment immediately or I'll have to deal with you. But I really don't want to do that because me and my new boyfriend are just getting started here."

Phil let out another scream and the look on Matt's face intensified and he glared at Phil. He quickly brought his hand back and slapped down hard on Phil's face. His face contorted with pain and let out a small wince.

"I told you to stop making noise, you're a pretty little angel meant to be seen and not heard. Now quiet, or I'll have to get violent."

"You're hurting him, you've been violent enough, now leave him alone!"

"Oh, if you think that's bad, just wait for him to try to speak again and I'll show you what real violence looks like. And I thought I told you to get. Out."

I ignored the threat and ran over to Phil. I pulled the gag out of his mouth and he gasped for air and was probably hyperventilating from the trauma.

"It's bringing back...my childhood...my dad...I can't..." his words became inaudible from that point and I just hugged him tightly, willing to shield Phil from any harm this monster wanted to inflict on him.

"Well, I'm a man of my promises. I'll just have to teach you two a lesson." I pried myself away from Phil and stared at Matt.

Without even thinking, my fist was brought up and slammed into Matt, hitting him square in the jaw. I shoved him off the bed and my foot connected and reconnected with his body, each kick getting more and more strong.

Once he was reduced to a helpless bloody pulp on the floor and knocked unconscious, I was satisfied with my work.

I quickly went over to the still sobbing Phil and released him from his bonds. I massaged the angry red marks from the bad kidnapping job. Seriously, if you're going to capture someone, you've gotta do it right!

I held him tightly and I could feel him shaking underneath me. I redressed him and picked him up to carry him bridal style all the way back to our flat and gently placed him on his own bed where he hugged his knees to his chest and sat silently.

I picked up my cell phone where I had left it before I went to go save Phil. I dialed the numbers I had hoped I wouldn't have to call any more as long as I lived.

"Operator, what's your emergency?"

"My boyfriend has just been sexually assaulted and abused. I'd like to have the criminal arrested."

I gave the operator the address and she assured me that police were already on their way to take Matt away.

I went back over to Phil and once again encased him in my arms, feeling a smaller tremble through him as the initial panic had worn off. He was still a bit shaken up, though.

I layed back and took him with me. He nestled up close in a way that screamed that he was vulnerable and needed some support. I gladly gave him all of the attention and protection he needed and deserved.

Phil eventually fell asleep in my embrace and I felt good. Not because I got to knock out a guy and finally not be the victim for once, but because Phil was safe. And we were together. And that's all that matters.